Invalid transfer apparatus

ABSTRACT

An invalid transfer apparatus having a plurality of air cells, the upper surfaces of which are flexible to conform to the shape of a patient resting thereon, the lower surface of which contains a plurality of restricted orifices passing therethrough and is supported by a substantially horizontal surface such as a mattress, air is supplied through the restricted orifices to the boundary layer between the lower surfaces and the horizontal support surface to greatly reduce the coefficient of friction therebetween.

United States Patent 1 Stiller INVALID TRANSFER APPARATUS [75] inventor: Paul F. Stiller, Clarence, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory,

Inc., Buffalo, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Jan. 18, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 107,196

[52] U.S. Cl. 5/81 B, 5/349, 180/125 [51] Int. Cl A6lg 7/08, A470 27/08 [58] Field of Search ..5/348350,

81, 86; 297/DlG. 8; 105/141; 180/116, 119,125,129

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,630,583 3/1953 Gilleland 5/81 B 3,513,934 5/1970 Crowley 180/125 X June 19, 1973 2,985,114 5/1961 Lindner .t 180/125 Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel Assistant Examiner-Andrew M. Calvert Attorney-Allen J Jaffe [57] ABSTRACT An invalid transfer apparatus having a plurality of air cells, the upper surfaces of which are flexible to conform to the shape ofa patient resting thereon, the lower surface of which contains-a plurality of restricted ori' fices passing therethrough and is supported by a substantially horizontal surface such as a mattress, air is supplied through the restricted orifices to the boundary layer between the lower surfaces and the horizontal support surface to greatly reduce the coefficient of friction therebetween.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1/1964 Theed 180/125 PATENIEU I 9 SHEEI 1 BF 2 PAUL F. STILLER INVENTOR ATTORNEY menu-10m 3.139.401

mum 2 PAUL F. STILLER INVENTOR ATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to invalid transfer devices and, more particularly, to an invalid transfer mattress or pad.

A long standing problem in hospitals is the transfer of post-operative patients from one horizontal surface to another, as from the operating table to the hospital bed. The transfer of such patients is usually accomplished by bodily lifting or sliding the patient from one surface to the other. During such a transfer the patient may be touched or his position may change, thereby inflicting great pain in the case of certain injuries, such as burns. Post-operative patients should be subjected to a minimum of such treatment.

Additionally, since manual lifting of the patient is required, the transfer of a heavy patient can become a difficult chore for one or two nurses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing problems, as well as others, are overcome according to the teachings of the present invention which provides an invalid transfer apparatus whereby the movement of a patient from one horizon-' tal surface to another is greatly facilitated.

Basically, the present invention provides an air mattress or pad having a plurality of restricted orifices on the undersurface thereof which permit the controlled leakage of air, causing the mattress or pad to float" on a boundary layer of air. This boundary layer reduces the sliding friction between the pad and its horizontal supporting surface, such as the bed mattress, and a negligible amount of force is required to cause the pad to move from one horizontal position to another without any jarring or jiggling of the patient.

In one form of the invention the orifices are continuously open; whereas according to a second form, valves are provided which are actuated upon contact with the supporting surface for the pad. This second form, although more costly to produce, conserves air and reduces air noises in the parts of the pad that are not in contact with the supporting surfaces, during the transition from one to the other.

Thus, the present invention provides an invalid transfer apparatus, comprising; a plurality of air cells defined by an upper member which is sufficiently flexible to conform to the shape of a human body resting thereon and a lower base member attached to said upper member adapted to be supported by a substantially horizontal support surface such as a mattress, means for supplying air to each of said air cells, and a plurality of means on said lower base member for placing said air cells in restricted communication with the boundary layer between said lower base member and the horizontal support surface whereby a molecular layer of air is supplied to the support surface to greatly reduce the coefficient of friction between the horizontal support surface and said base member and facilitate the lateral movement of said base member from the horizontal support surface to another horizontal support surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the present invention reference should now be had to the following detailed description of the same taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation view of the transfer apparatus and illustrating the function thereof;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial representation of the transfer apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating a second embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of said second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring not to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, the invalid transfer mattress or pad is generally depicted at 10, and, as illustrated schematically, generally functions to facilitate the transfer of a patient from a hospital bed B or the like to a wheeled cart C or the like.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 the mattress or pad 10 comprises a generally rectangular base member 12 fabricated of plastic material or the like. While base member 12 may be fairly rigid it should have sufficient flexibility to conform to the slight changes in curvature or shape of the bed mattress upon which it rests. For a purpose to become apparent hereinbelow, base 12 has a plurality of through openings or passages 14 uniformly distributed across substantially the entire sur face thereof.

A substantially rectangular upper support member 16 fabricated of a thin gauge highly flexible plastic material or the like is sealingly affixed to base member 12 along the perimeters 18 thereof. Heat sealing or any suitable plastic sealant material or adhesive may be utilized. Member 16 is further sealed to base 12 along longitudinally disposed spaced strips 20,.each of which extend from one short edge of sealing perimeter 18 longi tudinally across the surface of base 12 to a header region 22 which is spaced from the opposite short edge of sealing perimeter 18.

The regions of member 16 and base 12 which are between the sealing strips 20 define a plurality of parallel elongated air cells 24, which freely communicate with a header or supply chamber 26 which is defined by the header region 22 of member 26 and the portions of base member 12 immediately therebelow. The openings 14 are centered in each air cell 24 and the axes of which are perpendicular to the plane of the base member 12.

A hose or other suitable conduit 28 communicates with header chamber 26 for supplying air under pressure thereto from a suitable air supply which may comprise a compressor 30, a storage vessel or the like.

Member 16 and the upper surfaces of air cells 24 are sufficiently flexible to comfortably support the weight and conform to the shape of a patients body resting thereon. When it is desired to transfer the patient from one horizontal surface, such as a bed, to a second horizontal surface, such as a cart, air is supplied to each of the air cells 24 via header 22, some of which air is allowed to escape via restricted openings 14 to the boundary layer between the base 12 and its horizontal supporting surface. This escaping air forms a molecular air layer between the base and its supporting surface which greatly reduces the coefficient of friction therebetween and the pad can then be easily glided or floated to the second horizontal supporting surface.

In situations where it may be desirable to conserve air and to reduce the noise associated with the air passing through the restricted openings 14, valves may be provided for such openings in accordance with the modification illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 wherein like numerals with the addition of primes refer to like numeral elements of the previously described embodiment.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the openings 14 may be covered by parallel resilient strips of substantially rectangular valve members 40 longitudinally disposed in each air cell chamber 26'. The valve strips 40 may be adhesively sealed to base member 12 intermediate the openings 14 as at 42. Each valve strip has a plurality of rod-shaped actuating stems 44 passing through and beyond openings 14'.

When the pad is resting on a horizontal support surface S the stems 44 are forced by the contact therewith inwardly through openings 14 which causes the valve strip to be displaced as illustrated, whereby restricted communication is established between the air cell and the horizontal support surface. However, when there is no contact as when parts of the openings 14' are between horizontal support surfaces, the air in the cell forces the valve strip sealingly against the openings. Thus, no air is lost to the environment and, consequently, there is no disturbing noise of escaping air.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed and described, obvious changes may occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended that the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An invalid transfer apparatus, comprising;

a. a pluralityof air cells defined by an upper member which is sufficiently flexible to conform to the shape of a human body resting thereon and a lower base member attached to said upper member adapted to be supported by a substantially horizontal support surface such as a mattress,

b. means for supplying air to each of said air cells,

c. a plurality of means on said lower base member for placing said air cells in restricted communication with the boundary layer between said lower base member and the horizontal support surface whereby a molecular layer of air is supplied to the support surface to greatly reduce the coefficient of friction between the horizontal support surface and said base member and facilitate the lateral movement of said base member from the horizontal support surface to another horizontal support surface,

d. said plurality of means comprising valve members cooperating with restricted passages through said base member, and

e. said valve members comprising resilient strips located in each of said air cells.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein;

f. said valve members have attached thereto actuating stems passing through and extending beyond said restricted passages. 

1. An invalid transfer apparatus, comprising; a. a plurality of air cells defined by an upper member which is sufficiently flexible to conform to the shape of a human body resting thereon and a lower base member attached to said upper member adapted to be supported by a substantially horizontal support surface such as a mattress, b. means for supplying air to each of said air cells, c. a plurality of means on said lower base member for placing said air cells in restricted communication with the boundary layer between said lower base member and the horizontal support surface whereby a molecular layer of air is supplied to the support surface to greatly reduce the coefficient of friction between the horizontal support surface and said base member and facilitate the lateral movement of said base member from the horizontal support surface to another horizontal support surface, d. said plurality of means comprising valve members cooperating with restricted passages through said base member, and e. said valve members comprising resilient strips located in each of said air cells.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein; f. said valve members have attached thereto actuating stems passing through and extending beyond said restricted passages. 